The Impact Crew: “ Constitutional Crisis "

All black walls are white-washed, all wrongs are being made to look right in the eyes of the masses. The political spectacle the party faithfuls are wearing is indeed dark in the Ghanaian setting. No wonder the Righteous African Stand Tall Alone(RASTAfarians) call it “Politrics"! People intentionally deny what's known to be the bare fact and undeniable truth in the name of politics. Ghana is multiparty system, however, New Patriotic Party(NPP) and National Democratic Congress(NDC) have steered the governance affairs since the democratic offshoot. Therefore, they must be blamed for every mishappening in this country.

The nation was and still in crisis all because of the citizens' political affiliations pertaining to these two major parties. NPP members will do everything possible to right the wrongs of their political leaders and the NDC faithfuls as well. In March 2001, the NPP Government under the leadership of His Excellency, President John Agyekum Kufuor took a bold decision to seek debt relief under the Enhanced Heavily Indebted and Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, while most of the minority in parliament especially the NDC faithfuls were talking ill if his actions.

Likewise, His excellency, John Dramani Mahama also denied all constructive criticisms and went ahead to sign the International Monetary Fund(IMF BAILOUT) contract and now innocent Ghanaians are paying for its repercussions especially graduates from the various institutions. Undoubtedly, these two contract analogy by the aforementioned party faithfuls tried their possible best to suppress the evil sides or repercussions in respect to the HIPC under NPP and IMF Bailout under NDC. I still want to know why truth, integrity, honesty and trust have become an alien virtues to our political leaders?

Our motherland is in crisis and nothing seems to be working especially the poor souls who suffers a lot. General election is at the corner, however, the tension keeps on rising per the actions and inactions of our politicians and the die-hard party faithfuls of NPP and NDC. Most war torn countries in Africa had had the media hands in it that triggered everything. Hotel Rwanda issue is no exception. Between April and June 1994, an estimated 800,000 Rwandans were killed in the space of 100 days. Most of the dead were Tutsis - and most of those who perpetrated the violence were Hutus. Nonetheless, a critical research about what caused this genocide in the shores of the African soil involved media hands in the uproar.

Therefore, the earlier measures are put in place in the Ghanaian media to prevent doom, the better. Recently, three men sat in front of their console to spit more fire all because, they had political backing so they fear no evil. Concern citizens of Ghana thought their prison sentences will serve as a scarecrow to everyone who'll sat behind the media console or mount the campaign platform in terms of their utterances. Now, all things are lawful but not all things are expedient. The “Montie 3" remission had left a deep sore, sorrow and disappointment in the hearts of all those who wished for the success of this county.

This is common sense. This tragedy will never happen in any civilized larger society when conventions and morality works. The days in Ghana are growing darker progressively. The leading light of the ruling government is shedding their last glimmers of constitutional law, revealing an appetite for abuse of power, disregard for the rule of law and a tremendous lack of a true state of matured leadership. Anyone who wants to mount the art of statecraft must come to the academy. The normal practice of remission from what I know is graced to those who have served more than two-third of their sentence. Is this an advice or directive from the council of many men?

I can’t think far. Confidently, I can say that “Rule of Law” is going down the drain. The dead goat syndrome. It saddens my heart. “Rule of Law” has now amended into “Rule of Men”. It’s sad to say that separation of powers is now theoretical not practical. Is there any conflict of interest? How can the seat of the presidency be run so low in this liberal era of modern civilization. The flag of Ghana is at half mast.

I'm wondering what will be throbbing in the heart and mindset of the Chief Justice now. The standard set is wrong and an unpardonable error. This is a pure anomaly. This country is funny and to understand it, you have to live in it and look at the minds of the educated illiterates who rule it. The final habitats of the constitution is the judicial organ of government and in fact, this presidential pardon is a slap in their face. Again, the precedent set is an anomaly and it must be condemned to the highest brim. Ghanaians deserve better than this.

Mr President, more pressing issues must be dealt with! Graduates from the health and the teaching sector deserves better attention than this pardon. Do Ghanaians have NDC president or national president? Few days after the Progressive People Party's (PPP) book concerning the agitations of the petition of the “Montie 3" was stolen, the three ironical wise men have been fled. Who then stole the Progressive Peoples Party's petition book?

Sadly, majority of the citizens in my motherland cast their votes unscientifically. Majority of Ghanaians do not vote based on realistic policies. They vote on tribal lines and cultural setting. Big-ups to our dear floating voters who analyse the political parties manifestos and policies in order to vote accordingly. The trend must change this time around. We're living in a county where the government governs in favour of its political adherents; their wishes and desires without considering the cry of the masses.

Imagine if the montie trio were to be PPP affiliates, will the president of our land still pardon them? The gun-man who wanted to shoot the president at church had been pardoned? This prerogative of mercy had been in existence since the constitution of the land was drafted, therefore, there are more innocent souls in prisons who deserve this same mercy. My heart weeps for the future we hope to build as a nation. Our law courts crucifies only the small animals without reputation.

Simply, the constitution is archaic now and needs a complete overhauling else I don't want to be like Jeremiah in the Christian Bible to be tagged as a prophet of doom. Nonetheless, if an appeal is not filed again to challenge this pardon nor amendments pertaining to our 1992 constitution with regards to the prerogative of mercy and things continue to be like this, then the Ghana as a nation's future is very blur and opaque all other things being equal.

Akwasi Brobbey
[email protected]
0548412192
Offinso College of Education
Offinso-